2021-2022 High School Season
FORUM Tipoff Classic: Homestead-Westfield Preview
Category: 2021-2022 High School Season Written by Trevor Andershock
(Braden Smith picutred in the spring of 2021)
The 2021 FORUM Tipoff Classic nightcap pits feature Purdue teammates – Fletcher Loyer (Homestead) and Braden Smith (Westfield) – against each other. The two fierce competitors will fight for future bragging rights and possibly Mr. Basketball votes.
Homestead graduated a lot (most notably Luke Goode) from last season’s 25-1 team, but the Spartans are loaded again. Homestead is 3-1 with a loss to Kettering Alter out of Ohio. The Spartans shut down Carmel in a high-profile game over the weekend.
Loyer willed Homestead to the victory with his scoring. In the second half against Carmel, the Mr. Basketball candidate slashed to the basket and scored whenever he wanted. He finished with 25 points in a low-scoring game. Loyer is averaging 28.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game for the season.
Andrew Leeper (9 PPG), Grant Leeper, Kyron Kaopuiki, and Grady Swing provide a solid supporting cast for Homestead. Andrew Leeper or Kapouiki could be stars in different situations, but they play their roles excellently for Chris Johnson’s squad. Leeper has multiple D2 scholarship offers with D1 interest.
After a double-overtime loss, Smith has Westfield 2-1 to 4 No. 1 Zionsville. Although Westfield lost, Smith recorded 26 points, ten rebounds, and six assists. He is having the season that most expected, with 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. Smith is getting to the paint more this season as he is seeing an increase in two-point and free-throw attempts. Please make no mistake, he can still take over a game with his shooting.
The Shamrocks have balance with senior guard Cam Haffner averaging 16.3 points and Kai Butterworth scoring ten points per game. Haffner is a career 40 percent three-point shooter that helps space the floor. He will also push the tempo in transition. D1 and small colleges continue to track Haffner early in his senior season.
Veteran Nic Depasquale is a handful and will find ways to produce. The senior forward is a bit undersized but knows how to create advantages against taller opponents. He has been an integral part of Westfield for three seasons.
Overall, it will be a slugfest between two great programs with plenty of star power.
Schedule for December 11, 2021 at Southport High School
12:30 pm Heritage Christian vs. Southport
2:00 pm Bloomington North vs. Franklin Central
3:30 pm Central Noble vs. Barr-Reeve
5:00 pm Zionsville vs. Indianapolis Attucks
6:45 pm Covington Catholic (Ky.) vs. Indianapolis Cathedral
8:30 pm Homestead vs. Westfield
$15 all-day admission
For tickets, go to https://gofan.co/app/events/479555?schoolId=IN2200
All media must be approved ahead of the event. Send requests to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.